Slot-closing device



- F. E. COLBERT SLOT CLOSING DEVICE Fi led May 5. 1926 franeia Z. C'oZZerZ'.

connection with closed Patented June 15, 1926.

FRANCIS E. COLBERT, 01 DENVER, COLQBADO. I

SLOT-CLOSING nnvrcn.

Application filed May 3,

This invention relates to improvements in devices for closing the pedal slots in automobile floors.

Every automobile is provided with two or more pedals for controlling the clutch and brake and at has three pedals one of which is for controlling the reverse.

Vh'erever pedals are used the be provided with p can be rotated about its pivot point to the extent required. These slots permit cold air and dust to enter the interior of the car and this is highly objectionable especially in that enters through the pedal slots make it uncomfortable for the occupants and besides this helps to soil the upholstery. To prevent dust and dirt from entering through the slots various schemes have been proposed, some of which include the use of felt or rubber flaps which yield when the pedal arm moves but which normally occupy a position in which they substantially close the slots.

It is the object of this invention to produce a device for closing the slots which is so constructed and designed that it can be made of sheet metal and which will be positive in its operation which can be easily applied to the cars andwhich can be cheap ly constructed. 1

My invention briefly described consists in providing two superposed sheet metal plates with diagonal slots which extend in opposite directions and which form an opening at their intersection through which the pedal arm may project. lVIeans is provided to prevent these plates from moving longitudinal ly and at the same time permit them to move transversely with respect to each other; As

the pedal arm is moved, it will cause these plates to slide transversely and thereby move the point of intersection of the slots longitudinally in a manner which will become clear from the detailed description which will be given hereinafter.-

Having now briefly described my invention, I Will proceed to describe the same in detail and reference for this purpose will be had to the accompanying drawing in least one make of automobiles floor must slots so that the pedal cars as the foul air 1926. Serial No. 106,41.

which the preferred embodiment thereof has been illustrated, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view with a portion broken away showingmy improved slot clos- 1ng devlce in place; a

Figure -1;

Figure position of the superimposed plates;

3 is a detailed wiew showingone' Figure ,2 is a sectiontaken on line 2-2,

Figure 4: is a view similar to that shown ,7 in Figure 3 but showing the 'plates v1n a slightly different position;

Figure 5 isa sectlon taken on line 55,

Figure 1 and Figure 6 18 a section taken on line 6 6.

Figure 1. v

Numeral 1 designates the foot board which is provided with a plurality of parallel slots 2 through which the pedal arms C, R and B extend. In the operation of a car these pedals are'moved about their pivots in order to control the clutch, reverse the car or the brake. Thisinov'ement is of con; siderable magnitude andrequires that the slots 2 shall be of considerable lengthf When the slots 2 are open,- they provide a passageway through which dust, dirt and foul air may enter the car. In winter time the cold air that enters through these slots makes the interior of the car uncomfortable and in a similar Way the heated air that enters during the hot weather is also objectionable.

As has been stated above, it is the object {3 of this invention to provide a mechanical means for maintaining the space between the pedal arms and the foot' board closed at all times, and for this purpose the mech anism which I will now describe has been produced.

Before entering upon the detailed description of the construction, I will first describe the principal feature of the construction. In F1gures3 and t I have shown two rectangular plates which I have designated by numerals 3 and 4. These plates are of a length slightly greater than the length of the slots 2 which they are designed to close. Plates 3 and lmay be identical in size and shape, and eachhas a diagonal slot 5 that extends inwardly from one end and termi- The plates are assembled in reverse relation so that the slots cross each other, thereby providing a diamond-shaped opening which will be apparent that the has been indicated by numeral 6. The pedal arm which extends through the slot hat is covered by means of pair or" these plates. projects through the opening '6 in the manner indicated inFigures 3 and Let us now assumethat the plates 3 and 4 are prevented from moving longitudinally, but are permitted to move freely in a direction transverse to their longitudinal axes. If the pedal arm is now moved in a longitudinal directiomthe plates will have to move transversely. For example, when the pedal arm occupies the pos tion shown in Figure 3-, the undei plate 4- eXt-ends to the left or the upper plate 3. If we now move the pedal arm to the position shown in Fig ure 4, it willbe noticed that plate 4 has been movedso that it now extends to the right of plate 3. By mounting plates Band 4 in a suitable housing wh-ich permits them to move transversely but restricts their longitudinal movement, it is evident that they will adjust themselves to the position of the pedal arm which passes through the openings formed by the intersection of the diagonal slots 5. y

In Figures 1 and 5 I have illustrated an assembly which is adapted to be used in connection with "three :pe dal arms. In the illustration, shown, a housing formed by a flat plate 7 encloses two, sets of these rela-[ tively movable plates. The housing has-its edges bent downwardly in the manner indicated by numeral 8 so as to hit against the base board and formarecess 9 of a thickness equal to three thicknesses of the material employed. The flanges 8 that extend along the upp'er'and lower side of the housing have their edges 10-bent reversely so to form a channel for theirecepuon of the ends of plates 3faiid4. The enclosing casing is ,provided with a pluralityoif lugs 1 1 thatare adapted to receive screws 12 by means of which the casii'ig'is secured to theupper surface of the foot board. Slots l3'are provided intlie "flatside of thepart 7 and these siotsfare located directly above slots 2 in the foot board, so" that the pedals will extend through the slots '2 Qand lB in the manner shown in "Figure '1. Itwill be noticed that the slots 13 extend entirely through the upper edge of the plate 7, and plates 3 and l may be'moved transversel -er each other until the open ends of the slots 5 register with the open endsof slot 13 and in this way the protective device can beapplied to and removed from the pedals byfa simple slidmovement. From Figures and 1- it diamond-shaped lit closely about the have therefore provided 5 opening '6 does. not pedal arm and I duplicates and one nation, a

i Where a single slot is to be covered an assembly comprising two plates 25, 4; and an enclosing housing is SllillClBllt; but this must be duplicated for every penal. In the illust' those tion shown there are three pedals and are so close together that they will not permit three sets "of sliding plates to -oper ate in the same plane. it has thereforebeen necessary to arrange the closing mechanisms for pedals C and B inthe same plane and to place the sliding plates and theenclosing cover section 17 for the pedal R on top of the enclosing housing 7.

The plate 1 7 may have its end bent into U-shape so as to provide flanges 18 that engage the flanges 10 of the member 7, whereby it will beheld in assembled relation.

It is apparent that the novelty in this invention does not reside in the specific construction which has to be resorted to; where a plurality of closely located pedal slots are to be protected, but rather in the construction of each I sists of two slidingplates 3 and 4 having oppositely arranged diagonal slots and which are enclosed within a housing-that permits transverse movement of the. plates but prevents nally. 4 i

From the above it will be apparent that I have provided a simple mechanical-device which is. slots in an automobile foot board. The fact well adapted to close, the pedal separate unit, which conthem from moving longitudiassures that itwill always function in the manner desired.

The plates 3 and l are die will therefore be sufticient for both of these :plates. "The enclosing housing 7can also be very cheaply made by means of properly. constructed dies and for this reason the cost'of manufacture will be reducedto a ininimumj v iHavingdescribed the invention whatis claimed as new is 1. A slot closure end, said slots being reversely arranged 1 so that they will crossand means forprevenfting relative longitudinalmoyement of said plates while permitting-them to move tran-sversely relative to each other. I

a support havingan 2. In combinati-omj elongated slot, a pedal arm movable longis tudinally of the slot, a, pair of superimposed comprising zinc combipair of superimposed relatively transversely movable plates, each having a diagonal slot extending inwardly ifromone plates supported in parallel relation to the supporting surface, each of said plates having a slot extending inwardly from one end thereof in a diagonal direction, the plates beingso arranged that the slots cross each other so as to form a diamond-shaped opening adapted to enclose a pedal arm and means for preventing said plates from moving longitudinally with respect to each other while permitting relative transverse move- .ment.

longitudinal slot, a pedal arm extending through the slot and movable therealong and means for closing all parts of the slot except that through which the arm extends, said means consisting of two plates having slots extending inwardly from one end, said plates being superposed and so arranged that the slots in the plates cross each other and the slot in the support at the point where the arm extends through the latter and means for preventing relative longitudinal movement of the plates while permitting free relative transverse movement.

4. A device for closing a slot through which an arm moves, comprising a casing having a slot extending inwardly from one end, a pair of parallel opposed spaced guideways extending transversely of the slot, two superposed plates slidably mounted in the guideways, each of said plates having a slot extending inwardly from one end and terminating near the other end, said slots extending at an angle to the slot in the casing so that they will cross the latter, the slots in the movable plates being inclined in opposite directions so that they will cross each other. 7

In testimony'whereof I affix my signature.

FRANCIS E. COLBERT. 

